Buckle



' L. W. SHIELDS BUCKLE Filed June 23, 1923 IN V EN TOR. lowclfif BYj m ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 29, 1924.

UNIED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

LOWELL W. SHIELDS, OF ROCHESTEB,1\TEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO HIGKOK MANUFAC- TURING COMPANY, INC., OF ROCHESTER, NEIV YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

BUCKLE.

Application filed June 23, 1923. Serial No. 647,325.

1 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOWELL W. SHIELDS, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Buckles, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to buckles and an object thereof is to provide a buckle having a frame which will have a maximum strength and may be made in ornamental form. A further object of the invention is to provide a buckle frame formed from two pieces of material, one providing the front plate and the other a back plate and side flanges seamed to the front plate.

To these and other ends, the invention consists of certain parts and combinations of parts, all of which will be hereinafter described; the novel features being pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: I

Fig. l'is a front view of a buckle constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear view;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged tion; and

Fig. 4: is an enlarged transverse section.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 indicates the front plate formed of sheet metal and curved transversely and longitudinally. This front plate in the illustrated embodiment gradually decreases in width towards both ends from the center. The marginal edges of this front plate are turned rearwardly and inwardly at 2.

The frame also embodies a back member comprising a back plate 3 of a uniform width throughout slightly larger than the belt to be used in connection with the buckle. From two opposite edges of this back plate side flanges 4 are bent, these side flanges diverging with reference to each other and having lips or ribs 5 turned outwardlytherefrom and lying in abutment with the rear face of the front plate 1, being received under the marginal inwardly turned portions 2 to provide a seamed connection with the front plate at the upper and lower edges of the latter. The back plate 3 is curved transversely throughout and gradually approaches the front plate from one end thereof, so that the end nearest the front longitudinal secplate provides a passageway slightly deeper than the thickness of the belt. The side flanges are so formed that they conform at their edges to the shape of the front plate and, as. a consequence, there is no tendency frir the back member to slip on the front p ate.

In order to attach one end of the belt and secure ,the other a combination anchoring and clamping member is, in this instance, provided. This embodies a loop or anchoring portion 6 and a clamping portion 7, the latter-being serrated or toothed at 8 and; adapted to clamp a belt to the rear face ofthe front plate 1.

In order to provide for mounting the anchoring and clamping member on the back member, the back plate 3 is recessed or cut away at 9 at one end between the ends of the side flanges 4, and the back plate is also provided with rolled bearings 10 formed by extending the back plate beyond the side flanges to provide lips and rolling the lips into the bearings 10 on the inner side of the back plate, these lips being passed about pintles 11 formed on the combined anchoring and clamping member.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there has been provided a buckle frame in which the front plate gradually decreases in width toward each end from its central portion and having its marginal edge bent inwardly and rearwardly. A back member having side flanges along two edges is formed with outwardly turned ribs along its free edges and received under the inwardly turned margin of the front plate. The back plate is recessed near one end, and a combined anchoring and belt clamping member is anchored in this recess.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a buckle, a buckle frame comprising a front plate having marginal rearwardly and inwardly turned portions, and a back member embodying a back plate having side flanges along two edges formed with outwardly turned lips abutting the rear face of the front plate and received under the marginal inwardly turned portions.

2. In a buckle, a buckle frame comprising a front plate gradually decreasing in width toward each end from its central portion and having marginal inwardly turned portions along its upper and lower edges, and a back member embodying a back plate of uniform width throughout having side flanges along its upper and lower edges arranged in diverging relation and formed with outwardly turned lips abutting the rear face of the front plate and received under the inwardly turned portions of the front plate.

3. In a buckle, a buckle frame comprising a front plate formed with rearwardly and inwardly turned portions along its upper edges, and a back member embodying a back plate and side flanges along the upper and lower edges of said back plate, theside flanges being arranged in diverging relation and each side flange also being formed with an outwardly turned lip abutting the rear face of the front plate and received under the rearwardly and inwardly turned portion on the front plate.

4. In a buckle, a buckle framecomprising a front plate having its entire marginal portions bent rearwardly and inwardly, and a back member having side flanges held by the rearwardly and inwardly turned margin of the front plate.

5. In a buckle, the combination with a front plate, of a back member embodying a back plate and side flanges on said back plate seamed to the front member on the rear side of the latter, said back plate being recessed between the side flanges, and a pivoted member arranged in said recess and having an anchoring means for one end of the belt and a clamping means for the other end of the belt.

6. I11 a buckle, the combination with a front plate having its entire margin bent rearwardly and inwardly, a back member formed by a back plate having side flanges received under the inwardly turned margin of the front plate, said back plate being recessed and having rolled hearings on opposite sides of the recess, and apivoted member mounted to turn in said rolled bearings and in the recess and carrying means for cooperating with the rear face of the front plate to secure the other end of the welt.

LOIVELL lV. SHIELDS. 

